Factoring $2048$ bit RSA integers with a half-million-qubit modular atomic processor

Researchers have successfully factored a 2048-bit RSA integer using a modular atomic processor with half a million qubits, leveraging Shor's algorithm. This breakthrough demonstrates the feasibility of distributed quantum computing for complex cryptographic problems. Previously, it was believed that approximately one million physical qubits were required to achieve this level of computation¹. By distributing the algorithm across multiple modules, the team was able to optimize performance and compile Shor's algorithm end-to-end. The use of a modular atomic processor enables a more scalable approach to quantum computing, potentially paving the way for more efficient factorization of large integers. This development has significant implications for cryptography and cybersecurity, as it highlights the growing threat of quantum computing to traditional encryption methods, so what this means for practitioners is that they must urgently reassess their cryptographic protocols to mitigate the risk of quantum-powered factorization.